Wow. I'm having trouble figuring out what these Mormons are so upset over. What has Mr. Larson said? 1) Many polygamous groups believe their practice of polygamy is in obedience to an alleged revelation by Joseph Smith; 2) When written, the Mormon scripture Doctrine and Covenants was understood to command polygamy; 3) Polygamy was important to early Mormon leaders as evidenced by Joseph Smith's and Brigham Young's many wives; 4) There have been conflicting messages regarding the practice of polygamy throughout the history of the Utah Mormon Church; 5) The Utah Mormon Church no longer practices polygamy, though the doctrine, applied now to polygamy in eternity, remains; 5) The conflicting messages and changing doctrinal practice is confusing to some, resulting in polygamous splinter groups who believe they are being obedient to God's command give through Joseph Smith.
Mr. Larson is accused here of many things, including being deceptive, lacking objectivity and fairness, and perpetrating "hate speech." Huh? It all seems pretty straightforward to me. Mr. Larson has given us a little history lesson (verifiably true) that helps us better understand the FLDS group and their motivation to live as polygamists. Why is this information so offensive to Mormons? How on earth can this be considered "hate speech"? Why is Mr. Larson mischaracterized as "screeching" about Mormon prophets? I appreciate the comments above that actually engage the ideas presented by Mr. Larson. They give me something to think about and perhaps research. But the name-calling and knee-jerk comments by some only serve to make me wonder why these Mormons seem entirely unwilling to think.
Posted on July 17 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow. I'm having trouble figuring out what these Mormons are so upset over. What has Mr. Larson said? 1) Many polygamous groups believe their practice of polygamy is in obedience to an alleged revelation by Joseph Smith; 2) When written, the Mormon scripture Doctrine and Covenants was understood to command polygamy; 3) Polygamy was important to early Mormon leaders as evidenced by Joseph Smith's and Brigham Young's many wives; 4) There have been conflicting messages regarding the practice of polygamy throughout the history of the Utah Mormon Church; 5) The Utah Mormon Church no longer practices polygamy, though the doctrine, applied now to polygamy in eternity, remains; 5) The conflicting messages and changing doctrinal practice is confusing to some, resulting in polygamous splinter groups who believe they are being obedient to God's command give through Joseph Smith.
Mr. Larson is accused here of many things, including being deceptive, lacking objectivity and fairness, and perpetrating "hate speech." Huh? It all seems pretty straightforward to me. Mr. Larson has given us a little history lesson (verifiably true) that helps us better understand the FLDS group and their motivation to live as polygamists. Why is this information so offensive to Mormons? How on earth can this be considered "hate speech"? Why is Mr. Larson mischaracterized as "screeching" about Mormon prophets? I appreciate the comments above that actually engage the ideas presented by Mr. Larson. They give me something to think about and perhaps research. But the name-calling and knee-jerk comments by some only serve to make me wonder why these Mormons seem entirely unwilling to think.
On Mormon text leaves a maze of confusion